Now it so happened that Jack the Giant-Killer on his way to Wales passed through the town, and, hearing of the Prince’s plight, was so taken with his kindness and generosity that he determined to be the Prince’s servant.  So this was agreed upon, and next morning, after Jack had paid the reckoning with his last farthing, the two set out together.  But as they were leaving the town, an old woman ran after the Prince and called out, “Justice!  Justice!  The dead man owed me twopence these seven years.  Pay me as well as the others.”

And the Prince, kind and generous, put his hand to his pocket and gave the old woman the twopence that was left to him.  So now they had not a penny between them, and when the sun grew low the Prince said: 

“Jack!  Since we have no money, how are we to get a night’s lodging?”

Then Jack replied, “We shall do well enough, Master; for within two or three miles of this place there lives a huge and monstrous giant with three heads, who can fight four hundred men in armour and make them fly from him like chaff before the wind.”

“And what good will that be to us?” quoth the Prince.  “He will for sure chop us up in a mouthful.”

“Nay,” said Jack, laughing.  “Let me go and prepare the way for you.  By all accounts this giant is a dolt.  Mayhap I may manage better than that.”

So the Prince remained where he was, and Jack pricked his steed at full speed till he came to the giant’s castle, at the gate of which he knocked so loud that he made the neighbouring hills resound.

On this the giant roared from within in a voice like thunder: 

“Who’s there?”

Then said Jack as bold as brass, “None but your poor cousin Jack.”

“Cousin Jack!” quoth the giant, astounded.  “And what news with my poor cousin Jack?” For, see you, he was quite taken aback; so Jack made haste to reassure him.

“Dear coz, heavy news, God wot!”

“Heavy news,” echoed the giant, half afraid.  “God wot, no heavy news can come to me.  Have I not three heads?  Can I not fight five hundred men in armour?  Can I not make them fly like chaff before the wind?”

“True,” replied crafty Jack, “but I came to warn you because the great King Arthur’s son with a thousand men in armour is on his way to kill you.”

At this the giant began to shiver and to shake.  “Ah!  Cousin Jack!  Kind cousin Jack!  This is heavy news indeed,” quoth he.  “Tell me, what am I to do?”

[Illustration:  “Ah!  Cousin Jack!  Kind cousin Jack!  This is heavy news indeed”]

“Hide yourself in the vault,” says crafty Jack, “and I will lock and bolt and bar you in; and keep the key till the Prince has gone.  So you will be safe.”

Then the giant made haste and ran down into the vault, and Jack locked, and bolted, and barred him in.  Then being thus secure, he went and fetched his master, and the two made themselves heartily merry over what the giant was to have had for supper, while the miserable monster shivered and shook with fright in the underground vault.